Trousers waistband structure

ABSTRACT

A trousers-supporting elastic and fabric waistband comprising an elastic band divided into belt and skirt portions covered by an outer, extensible fabric web. The elastic band is stitched to the fabric web on two spaced, parallel lines, so that the fabric web cooperates with the elastic band to form a belt with physically limited extensibility. Concealment of both belt and skirt portions of the elastic band by the overlying extensible fabric web assures an attractive, wrinkle-free outer trousers surface.

United States Patent [1 1 Ruby [ 51 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] TROUSERS WAISTBAND STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: Burton B. Ruby, Michigan City,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: Jaymor-Ruby, Inc., Michigan City,

Ind.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 204,197

[52] US. Cl ..2/237 [51] Int. Cl. ..A4ld 1/06 [58] Field of Search.....2/237, 221, 76, 236, 220, 227

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1942 Hardie .;...2/237 4/1940 Moore ..2/237 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney-Esther O. Kegan et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A trousers-supporting elastic and fabric waistband comprising an elastic band divided into belt and skirt portions covered by an outer, extensible fabric web. The elastic band is stitched to the fabric web on two spaced, parallel lines, so that the fabric web cooperates with the elastic band to form a belt with physically limited extensibility. Concealment of both belt and skirt portions of the elastic band by the overlying extensible fabric web assures an attractive, wrinkle-free outer trousers surface.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures /4 lllh/ TROUSERS WAISTBAND STRUCTURE Concealed as, well as outwardly visible elastic waistbands for trousers are known in the prior art. Such structures show various types of waistbands including waistbands in which support is provided by a strip of elastic divided into upper and lower rings or annular portions. However, these and other prior art structures suffer from one or more serious disadvantages which make them not completely satisfactory for their intended purpose. For example, in some structures there is an inherent lack of cooperation between elastic and fabric portions of the waistband, resulting in either undesirable wrinkling of the fabric when tension is released or necessitating application of undue and damaging stress to the fabric when the fabric and elastic are sewn together. In other cases the elastic por' tion of the waistband is only partially concealed by fabric, resulting in a less attractive appearance. It is the aim of the present invention to provide a simple yet most effective solution to the problems referred to above and to other shortcomings in the field of trousers waistbands.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an elastic waistband for trousers in which a concealed elastic band cooperates with a linearly extensible, outer fabric web to form an attractive, trousers-supporting waistband with distinct, but physically limited yet functionally adequate extensibility.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a trousers with an elastic support waistband, in which a relatively unattractive elastic band is concealed beneath an attractive fabric web, thereby enhancing the appearance and resultant saleability of the trousers.

It is a further object of the present invention to form an elastic waistband for trousers in which elastic and frictional support are provided both by an upper belt portion of a concealed elastic band and by a lower, skirt portion of the band, the belt portion being adapted to encircle and engage a wearer's lower abdominal waist region and the skirt portion being adapted to lie below the belt portion and to be fittingly positioned about the wearers upper pelvic waist region.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an elastic waistband for trousers, which band is of simple construction and easily manufactured.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully understood upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of trousers embodying the waistband assembly of the invention, illustrating the relationship to a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of trousers embodying the waistband assembly of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the inside of a pair of trousers utilizing the waistband assembly of the invention, in which portions are cut away to show the underlying structures.

The aims and objectives of the invention are achieved by stitching an elastic band to the inside face of a web of extensible fabric. The fabric and elastic are held together by two vertically spaced parallel lines of a stitching which bring the fabric web to abut and interact with an upper, belt portion of the band defined by the two lines. The elastic band is thus limited in its linear extensibility not only by its own inherent resistance to elongation but by the greater resistance of the fabric web. Additional trousers support is provided by a lower, skirt portion of the elastic band which depends freely below the lower extremity of the fabric web. Since the skirt portion is physically limited at its upper edge and free at its lower edge, its resistance to elongation decreases in a downward direction, and it thereby adapts readily to the normal, outwardly tapering contour ofa wearers body.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the waistband assembly of the present invention is useful with trousers of any type, including dress slacks and shorts for casual wear. Trousers 12 incorporating a waistband assembly of the invention do not differ in general external appearance from more conventional trousers. The trousers 12 in which the invention is useful include the usual pants body 13, an end belt structure 14 and buckle l5, and a typical zipper closure 16.

The structure of the waistband assembly 17 itself and the manner in which it is attached to the pants body 13 are best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. An external fabric web 18 is secured by a line of stitching 19 to the pants body 13. The fabric web 18 is also sewn to an inner elastic band 20 with two lines of stitching. A first, upper line 21 secures a portion 22 of the fabric web 18 looped over the upper linear edge 23 of the elastic band 20 to the inner surface 24 of the elastic 20. Since the fabric is looped, this stitching 21 is not visible on the outer surface of the assembly 17.

A second, lower line of stitching 31 successively passes through and holds together the elastic band 20, the pants body 13, and the fabric web 18. This line 31 divides the elastic band 20 into'an upper belt or belt portion 32 and a lower skirt or skirt portion 33. In.an actual waistband assembly, the belt portion 32 and the fabric web 18 abut contiguously rather than being physically spaced as illustrated in FIG. 3 for purposes of clarity. The fabric web 18 is made from a woven material having an appearance similar to that of the pants body 13 in the preferred embodiment shown, although in other trousers a contrasting color or material may be chosen.

The elastic band 20 is made from a heavy, elastomerized material having considerable inherent resistance to linear elongation. The fabric web 18 is made from an extensible but elastomer-free material so that it possesses greater resistance to linear elongation than the elastic band 20. Since the web 18 and elastic band 20 are interconnected by two spaced parallel lines of stitching, the web stabilizes and prevents uncontrolled extension of the belt portion 32 of the band 20. The result is a mutual interaction between the web 18 and the band 20 which produces an assembly 17 having a regulated resistance to linear elongation established by and a function of the sum of the resistances of the belt 32 and of the web 18. Since both the band 20 and the web 18 are extensible, when sewing them together,

.it is unncessary to apply tension at their lines of attachment 21 and 31. Thus, the problem of any wrinkling and puckering of the fabric 18 is eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the belt portion of the elastic band is provided with a grid-like pattern 34 of slightly raised ridges. This produces a roughened surface having a very high frictional resistance to slipping and sliding, so that the waistband assembly will tend to stay in place when it is worn.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, when trousers l2 incorporating a waistband assembly 17 of the present invention are worn, the belt portion 32 of the elastic band 20 bears against a lower abdominal waist region A of the wearer, and the elastic skirt 33 is fittingly positioned below the waist region A and about upper pelvic waist region B. The belt 32 bears more heavily against the waist then does the skirt and thus provides a major contribution to the elastic and frictional support achieved.

Additional trousers support is given by the elastic skirt 33. As indicated in FIG. 3, the skirt 33 is secured by stitching 31 to the fabric web 18 at the lower edge of the belt 32 and depends freely toward an unsecured lower edge 35. As a result, there is progressively less resistance to linear elongation in the skirt portion as measured in a vertical direction from its upper edge 31 downwardly. The skirt portion 33 is thus adaptable automatically to the flare or normally outwardly tapering contour of the wearers upper pelvic waist region B.

While the above disclosure has been made with reference to a preferred embodiment of the waistband assembly, numerous variations and modifications in structural detail and in outward appearance may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. For example, while the specific embodiment shown in the drawing includes a buckle front, an extension waistband fastened by buttons or by other preferred means may be utilized, the specific form of the belt or waistband fastening means not constituting a part of the present invention. This disclosure is illustrative only, and it is not intended to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims. The word trousers as used herein is merely descriptive, since the invention embraces waistbands for skirts as well.

What is claimed is:

1. In trousers having a waistband assembly including a fabric web concealing a cooperating elastic band disposed therebeneath, the improvement comprising:

a web constituting a fabric having distinct and utilitarian but physically limited extensibility under elongation stress forces applied thereto;

an elastic band substantially coextensive annularly with said web and disposed radially inwardly thereof in substantially contiguous relation therewith, said band including a belt portion and a skirt portion therebelow;

said web being secured proximate upper and lower circumambient marginal edge portions thereof to said band along corresponding vertically spaced parallel lines of stitching to engage said band at an upper first and at a lower second annular line of stitching extending substantially around said band and defining therebetween said belt portion of said band;

whereby said web stabilizes said belt portion of said elastic band to preclude uncontrolled extension thereof, said web defining a positive physical limit for linear elastic elongation of said belt portion of said elastic band;

the lower circumambient part of said band defining said skirt portion depending freely from a waistencircling lower extremity of said web to bear upon, embrace, and resiliently engage an upper pelvic waist region of the wearer.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt portion of said band is characterized in that said skirt portion exhibits between upper and low parallel edges thereof a linear extensibility gradient providing progressively reduced resistance to elongation as measured along a vertical direction from the upper edge said skirt portion downwardly, variance in linear extensibility of said skirt portion resulting from and being correlated with a physically limiting web securement of the upper edge of said skirt portion and a free, unrestrained lower edge of said skirt portion.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trousers include a pants body stitched to an outer surface of said elastic band proximate said second line of stitching and depending therefrom;

and wherein said web is separate and distinct from said pants body, said web being also stitched to an outer surface of said elastic band along the second line of stitching, said web being looped over an upper linear edge of said elastic band and being stitched to an inner surface of said band along the first line of stitching;

said web thereby covering and concealing the belt portion of said elastic band.

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt portion of said elastic band is provided with a rough inner surface characterized by a grid pattern of raised ridges effecting increased frictional resistance of said waistband assembly to sliding and slipping in use. 

1. In trousers having a waistband assembly including a fabric web concealing a cooperating elastic band disposed therebeneath, the improvement comprising: a web constituting a fabric having distinct and utilitarian but physically limited extensibility under elongation stress forces applied thereto; an elastic band substantially coextensive annularly with said web and disposed radially inwardly thereof in substantially contiguous relation therewith, said band including a belt portion and a skirt portion therebelow; said web being secured proximate upper and lower circumambient marginal edge portions thereof to said band along corresponding vertically spaced parallel lines of stitching to engage said band at an upper first and at a lower second annular line of stitching extending substantially around said band and defining therebetween said belt portion of said band; whereby said web stabilizes said belt portion of said elastic band to preclude uncontrolled extension thereof, said web defining a positive physical limit for linear elastic elongation of said belt portion of said elastic band; the lower circumambient part of said band defining said skirt portion depending freely from a waist-encircling lower extremity of said web to bear upon, embrace, and resiliently engage an upper pelvic waist region of the wearer.
 2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt portion of said band is characterized in that said skirt portion exhibits between upper and low parallel edges thereof a linear extensibility gradient providing progressively reduced resistance to elongation as measured along a vertical direction from the upper edge said skirt portion downwardly, variance in linear extensibility of said skirt portion resulting from and being correlated with a physically limiting web securement of the upper edge of said skirt portion and a free, unrestrained lower edge of said skirt portion.
 3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trousers include a pants body stitched to an outer surface of said elastic band proximate said second line of stitching and depending therefrom; and wherein said web is separate and distinct from said pants body, saiD web being also stitched to an outer surface of said elastic band along the second line of stitching, said web being looped over an upper linear edge of said elastic band and being stitched to an inner surface of said band along the first line of stitching; said web thereby covering and concealing the belt portion of said elastic band.
 4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt portion of said elastic band is provided with a rough inner surface characterized by a grid pattern of raised ridges effecting increased frictional resistance of said waistband assembly to sliding and slipping in use. 